Search form

Book Deal for Judith Miller?

<img width="240" align="right" src="http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050930/capt.wcap101093018... />There are suspicions surrounding the faux-martyrdom of New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who decided she'd rather go to jail than reveal a source in the Valerie Plame case. The source turned out to be Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby.
<p>Even liberal reporter Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post suspected grandstanding. As reported by Newsbusters' <a href="http://newsbusters.org/node/1700">Ken Shepherd</a>, Froomkin said on Sept. 30:
</p><p>
&quot;Can it be? That after all that, New York Times reporter Judith Miller sat in jail for 12 weeks to protect the confidentiality of a very senior White House aide -- even though the aide repeatedly made it clear he didn't want protecting?...
</p><p>
&quot;So what was Miller doing in jail? Was it all just a misunderstanding? The most charitable explanation for Miller is that she somehow concluded that Libby wanted her to keep quiet, even while he was publicly -- and privately -- saying otherwise. The least charitable explanation is that going to jail was Miller's way of transforming herself from a journalistic outcast (based on her gullible pre-war reporting) into a much-celebrated hero of press freedom.&quot;
</p><p>The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/making-faux-martyrdom-p... Post</a> reports:
</p><p>
&quot;Sources tell me that Judy Miller is telling friends that she has made a $1.2 million book deal with Simon &amp; Schuster. I’ve heard from senior editors at the publishing house that the deal is still so hush-hush that word of it has not appeared in the memos that circulate among the editorial staff, keeping them updated on pending deals and acquisitions.&quot;
</p><p>Huffington made an update later on the page saying the president of Simon &amp; Schuster told her, “There is no signed deal for the book.&quot;
</p><p>Whatever happens, it's clear Judith Miller believes 12 weeks in jail is a small price to pay for big money and a chance to finally make it big in Washington.</p>

Federal employees and military personnel can donate to the Media Research Center through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC. To donate to the MRC, use CFC #12489. Visit the CFC website for more information about giving opportunities in your workplace.